Microsoft has been granted a patent on a content distribution system that uses cameras built into televisions, PCs, and mobile phones to act as a "consumer detector," to enforce DRM licensing terms.
"A fee can be charged for each viewer of the content for each view," Patent US20120278904 reads. "Viewers may be uniquely …

Re: Awesome!

I really hate to put a downer on the hatefest, but I doubt if this is intended for the home. More likely, it's for venues that rent huge screens to display to paying audiences or attract audiences to raise revenues, like pubs, who already pay more.

Not exactly lovely fluffy tech but it's never going to get anywhere your telly.

Re: Hmm...

Re: Hmm...

System alert, system alert! Attempted tempering detected! System shutdown! License revoked! Fee automatically deducted from your bank account! Insurers informed and electricity supply cut off, to make it impossible for you to leave the premises before our swat team's landed on your doorstep! Sorry for the inconvenience!

Re: Hmm...

Are Microsoft living on the same planet as the rest of us?

I have a few issues with this latest "ideation" from Microsoft: one concerning Microsoft's apparent self-appointment as Sherif, policing other right's holder's content and the latter concerning personal and familiy privacy.

So, what right over the copyrighted works of others does Microsoft have? If I buy a legitimate CD/DVD (no mention of Blu-ray in the report - Is that because Sony would sue their ar*ses, eh?) which holds copyright material from, say, Sony or Universal or any other such producer, on what way can Microsoft put themselves in the "value chain" with such producers and, of course, the purchaser (or I should say "content hirer"?) of the material?

In the UK, BBC, ITV, SKY and other boradcasters often "pixelate" the faces of children that may occur in video or photo images they broadcast, such is the climate of fear concerning images of children. If this patented technology is used in the the UK home environment, how many privacy, potential "kiddie porn" misinterprestations are Microsoft prepared to defend?

Be assurred, Microsoft, if I was looking for some media playback device, I would NOT go and buy such a device with camera's built in from you or anyone else that would look to licence this privacy invasion! Are Microsoft certain that they would want to activily be the violation of personal, home privacy?

Re: Are Microsoft living on the same planet as the rest of us?

"I have a few issues with this latest "ideation" from Microsoft: one concerning Microsoft's apparent self-appointment as Sherif, policing other right's holder's content and the latter concerning personal and familiy privacy."

Since they will negotiate the rights and compensation for presenting that content on their devices with the right's holders I'm not sure what your issue is here.

The way I see it working is along the lines of "Movie Rental Options: Rent movie X for solo viewing - £5, Rent movie X for family viewing (max 4 persons) - £10, Rent movie X for unlimited viewing - £50", so if you want privacy you either don't rent content via the Microsoft device and service or you select the unlimited option - simples.

Watching, watching, watching......

So your girlfriend and/or wife id going to trust this device, sitting there monitoring you. Even if it is not capable of actual video capture do you think they will believe that? So no more sex on the sofa, rug, floor, table, hanging from the chandelier.

This can not be planned as a home device, they really can not be serious.

I'd be seriously worried about this

remove your coats, belts and shoes

Naughty Cinema Anyone?

Well could be as interesting to implement as the TSA scanners that see too much..

Seriously, the idea that a camera will be looking back at a user and only seeing a face (yeaaaaah, right!) is as honest as that line "I won't cum in your mouth, darling,.. really.." All it needs is one halfway decent hack and it's a peeping Tom's paradise.

This one will NEVER fly except perhaps with a certain.. ummm shall we say.. 'exhibitionistic' crowd.

The patent is designed to work with both streaming content and downloaded material stored in "RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices." Redmond's patent lawyers are nothing if not thorough.

So I can watch my (silent) Super8 films and listen to my vinyl records without issue then? Cool. :-)